Fwd: Buddhist Studies Film Event at USC (Los Angeles) This Sunday

[Aaron Gerow]

Begin forwarded message:
>
>
>
> Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:11:05 -0800
> From: Lori Meeks <meeks at usc.edu>
>
>
> Join us for the U.S. Premiere of Makoto Sasaki's FRAGMENT, a film that
> explores Buddhist ritual and prayer in contemporary global society.
>
> Sunday, February 22, 2009
> 2:00-3:30pm Screening of FRAGMENT (Japanese with English subtitles)
> 3:45-5:00pm Panel Discussion, Q&A
> School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) 108, USC
> Reception to follow
> Please RSVP to eascrsvp at usc.edu with your name and number of guests
>
> The screening will be followed by a Panel Discussion with Makoto
> Sasaki (filmmaker); Joe Parker (Pitzer College); William Whittington
> (USC School of Cinematic Arts); & Lori Meeks (USC College).
>
> Film Synopsis:
>
> Moved by the tragedy of 9/11, young entertainer Jicchoku Inoue decides
> to take a break from his television career so he can make offerings to
> those who died in New York. He becomes a Buddhist priest and commits
> himself to the aragyo, a 100-day ascetic practice so severe that is  
> said
> to have claimed the lives of many who have attempted to complete it.
> Inoue survives the aragyo, a feat that earns him the right to use
> special ritual implements believed capable of destroying evil karma  
> and
> pacifying the dead. He then takes his newly acquired ritual skills and
> instruments to Ground Zero, where he offers prayers, both for the dead
> and for world peace. Sasaki's film follows him on this ambitious
> journey.
>
> About the Filmmaker
>
> Makoto Sasaki was born in Japan in 1975. In 1997, he participated as
> screenwriter for a music movie called Yaips! produced by Tetsutaro
> Sakurai and also directed Satsuei Pochomukin, one of the segments
> in the anthology of films planed by Shinobu Yaguchi.  The following  
> year
> he signed a contract with Sony Music Entertainment as director of the
> image production team. He now works as a freelance image and video
> director for music videos and TV productions.
>
> About the Cast
>
> Jicchoku Inoue was born in Japan in 1977. After graduating college,he
> joined the film industry and appeared in several Japanese movies,  
> dramas
> and TV shows. He is the senior administrative priest of Chokoji, a
> Nichiren temple in Tokyo, Japan.
>
> Sponsored by the USC East Asian Studies Center; the Religion,  
> Identity,
> and Global Governance Project; the Center for Visual Anthropology; the
> Center for Religion and Civic Culture; the Office of Religious  
> Life; and
> the School of Religion.
>
> To view the event flyer, please click here:
> http://college.usc.edu/east_asian_studies/private/spring_2009/ 
> Fragment_Flyer.pdf
>
> To view the flyer in Japanese, please click here:
> http://college.usc.edu/east_asian_studies/private/images/ 
> Japanese_Flyer_Fragment.pdf
>
> For any additional questions, contact us at easc at college.usc.edu
> or 213-740-2991.
>
> Parking is available at Lot M and PSD for $8. Enter campus through
> Gate #5 at Jefferson Blvd. and McClintock Ave. and proceed to parking
> kiosk. Off-campus parking is also available at lots on Jefferson Blvd.
> and the street.
> <http://www.usc.edu/private/about/visit_usc/USC_UPC_map_color.pdf>.
>
> ******************************************************************
> To view a complete listing of upcoming East Asia related events at
> USC, please visit the East Asian Studies Center (EASC) website at
> <www.usc.edu/easc/events/>.
>
> If you would like to be added to the EASC e-mail list and receive
> announcements on upcoming events, please send an e-mail with your name
> and affiliation to EASC at easc at college.usc.edu.
>
> ******************************************************************
>